PUNCTUAL PRICING FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY OBJECTIVES IN WASTE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This paper illustrates the methodological approach followed for designing and implementing a door-to-door collection service for urban and assimilated waste produced in the Municipality of Latina 126.151 inhabitants in 2017).

The territorial context is characterised by the high variability of the urban types. In particular, three types can be distinguished: urban areas, with vertical development of buildings and high population density; rural areas characterised by villages and low urban density; coastal areas, partly urbanised and partly within the Circeo natural park. The area of the municipality is 277 km² and has a coastline of 12 km². At a morphological level, the municipal territory is mainly flat, and this certainly helps in the management of the collection system.

Through the appropriate integration of different tools, the territory was divided into homogeneous areas, so to identify the most appropriate collection methods according to the specific characteristics of each area (or groups of homogeneous areas) and to draw up a timetable for the gradual transition from the existing curbside collection system to the door-to-door system.

In particular, since the territory is large with a considerable number of inhabitants, the implementation of the new collection service was designed as a stepwise process so as to manage the territory in the best possible way and to correct the model, if necessary, after an initial start-up phase. In order to identify the boundaries between neighbouring areas which, during the transition period, are served with different collection methods (e.g., door-to-door vs. curbside collection), physical barriers were identified, including main roads or canals. To reduce the input of waste from people from other cities, it was decided to apply this new method in the main access points of the city.

Following an in-depth territorial analysis and the identification of the most appropriate design parameters, the study aimed to define the vehicle collection routes for each homogeneous areas and the consequent estimate of the required teams of operators, as well as the rotation of these. The study was completed by a field monitoring phase of the new system, which allowed to calibrate the parameters chosen in the design phase.

One of the most interesting results obtained in this work is the very short timeframe required by a well-dimensioned door-to-door system to achieve the high separate collection targets imposed by the legislation.

The objective scenario of the Lazio Regional Waste Management Plan (PRGR) is defined as I (minimal): reduction of waste production by 5% in 2025; increase in the level of biodegradable interception to 77 kg/inhabitant year and 456.55 t/year in 2025; annual increase in %RD to 70% in 2025; achievement of 63% net effective recycling in 2025.

In this case, in fact, the fraction of urban waste collected separately exceeds the targets set by the current Regional Plan already after the first month the new collection service was put in place.

Even more positive results will be seen as soon as punctual pricing is implemented, with which users will be made more responsible but also rewarded for their virtuous behaviour.